London - Rape
conviction rates in Sweden have risen 75% in two years following
a major change in the law, spurring calls on Monday for other
countries to revamp their legislation.
Sweden changed the legal definition of rape in 2018 to sex
without consent. Unlike in many countries, prosecutors do not
have to prove the use or threat of violence or coercion.
The National Council on Crime Prevention (Bra) said the rise
in convictions - up from 190 in 2017 to 333 in 2019 - showed the
change had had a greater impact than expected.
"We were surprised there was such an increase," Bra senior
researcher Stina Holmberg said on Monday.
"It's a good sign. This has led to greater justice for
victims of rape," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation,
adding that she hoped the law would encourage discussions on the
issue of consent in schools and homes.
Women's rights campaigners called on other nations to follow
Sweden's example.
"This shows an urgent need for other countries to follow
suit," said Katarina Bergehed, senior policy adviser on women's
rights at Amnesty International in Sweden.
"Sexual activity must be consensual. Anything else is rape."
Britain, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland and Luxembourg already define rape as sex without
consent, while Denmark, Finland, Spain and Portugal have
promised similar reforms.
'SHOCKINGLY LOW'
Bergehed said most people still thought of rape as an attack
by a stranger, but a review of court cases in Sweden showed
almost all victims knew their assailant.
"These stereotypes are not helping victims to step forward -
it makes them unsure of whether they really experienced rape or
not," she added.
Bergehed said many women also blamed themselves for what
happened, particularly if they had frozen and not fought back.
Police and courts often query a victim's story if she did
not retaliate, but there is growing evidence that many victims
experience temporary paralysis when raped.
Bergehed said a study by a Swedish emergency clinic for rape
victims showed 70% had experienced a "frozen fright" reaction.
While Bergehed welcomed the rise in convictions, she said
the overall number remained "shockingly low".
Reports of rapes rose to 5,930 in 2019 from 4,895 in 2017,
but Bergehed said this was the tip of the iceberg. She said
sexual crimes were not prioritised and investigations often
flawed, meaning few cases went to trial.
Police said last year they would recruit new staff to focus
on sexual crimes and domestic violence.
Sweden's 2018 rape law also introduced a new offence of
negligent rape for cases where courts found consent had not been
established, but that the perpetrator had not intended to commit
rape.
The Bra review showed 12 people had been convicted of this
offence.
Holmberg said senior judges needed to provide clearer
guidance to courts on the offence.